Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, is expected to visit Madrid on December 11 for talks with Spanish counterpart, Ana Palacio.

The visit was announced on Monday by the head of the Spanish diplomacy and confirmed by a Moroccan diplomatic source, according to Maghreb Arabe Presse. Benaissa’s trip to Spain was scheduled four months ago.

The two foreign ministers are due to discuss all pending issues and to look into various bilateral problems and disputes in order to normalize relations between the two countries, MAP added.

Moroccan-Spanish already strained relations worsened when Spanish army helicopters, supported by gunboats, landed on the Moroccan islet of Tora, some 150 meters off the Moroccan coast, violating Morocco's airspace and territorial waters, the official news agency said.

According to MAP, Spanish forces captured six Moroccan security agents sent by Rabat on a routine operation to control illegal immigration, smuggling and drug trafficking in the strait of Gibraltar. The six men were later set free near the occupied Moroccan city of Sebta, the agency added. (Albawaba.com)